Pubdate: Mon, 05 May 2008
Source: Patriot-News, The (PA)
Copyright: 2008 The Patriot-News
Contact:  http://www.patriot-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1630
Author: Joe Elias
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)

STUDENTS TO PUSH FOR REVISED DRUG POLICY

Suspended Teen Says He Didn't Know About Burnt Marijuana In Car

WHAT: West Perry School Board meeting. WHEN: 7:30 tonight. WHERE: The 
district office, Elliottsburg. INFORMATION: www.westperry.k12.pa.us.

ELLIOTTSBURG l Several West Perry High School students will ask the 
school board tonight to modify its policy regarding punishment for 
students caught with drugs on campus.

At issue is a senior who was suspended from school for five days and 
the track team for 30 days after a police drug dog in the school lot 
April 25 detected marijuana in a used car the boy had recently purchased.

Friends of the student said police found a small amount of burnt 
marijuana in the car's ashtray -- drugs they say their friend knew 
nothing about.

"The punishment seems a little harsh," classmate Samuel Dubois said. 
"He got the car for basically nothing, but he's paying for it now."

Attempts to reach the student were unsuccessful.

"He doesn't want to go down in history as the guy who was suspended 
for something like this," Dubois said. "A lot of people think this is 
really unfair."

Lynn Aul, another classmate, said the student took and passed several 
drug tests, including urine, blood and hair follicles. He was not 
charged criminally.

More than 100 students signed a petition in support of the suspended 
student, Aul said.

"He's not a smoker of any kind," Aul said. "He never used the ashtray 
and didn't even clean out the car since he got it."

In 2006, West Perry approved a policy that calls for a 30-day 
suspension from extracurricular activities for a first violation of 
the drug and alcohol policy -- whether that violation occurs in or 
out of school.

First-time offenders are allowed to participate in practice if they 
submit to a drug and alcohol assessment.

A second offense calls for suspension from the activity for a year.

The policy was created after five field hockey players were suspended 
from the team after they admitted drinking alcohol at a weekend party 
in 2005. School officials removed six soccer players from their team 
for the same offense in 2004.

Telephone calls placed Friday to Superintendent Rhonda Brunner and 
high school Principal Sherri Connell were not returned. School was 
closed Friday.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: West Perry School Board meeting. WHEN: 7:30 tonight. WHERE: The 
district office, Elliottsburg. INFORMATION: www.westperry.k12.pa.us.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom